Graham completed his protracted move to Sunderland when the Swans accepted a £5m fee to see the 27-year-old sign a three-and-a-half year deal with the North East side.

Yet attempts to bring in a loan signing – including QPR’s Jamie Mackie – to cover the loss of the seven-goal frontman were fruitless going into the final minutes of the transfer window, appearing to leave Swansea surprisingly shy of forward options.

While Michu’s move into the No.9 role has proven a masterstroke from Laudrup, the loss of Graham means he looked to be left with only Luke Moore and Itay Shechter as alternatives in case of injury or dropping the Spaniard back into midfield.

Yet Laudrup had insisted to figures within the club he was content going forward with the existing squad, despite having stated earlier this week he hoped Graham would stay at the club.

And the Swans stance – having been prepared to snub bids for the former record signing – was that Graham would leave only on terms that suited the Liberty side.

Scotland international Mackie had been lined up as a loan replacement to provide a stop-gap solution before a renewed summer attempt to land Spanish striker Iago Aspas, the Celta Vigo forward having not moved over the January window despite interest from Chelsea, Reading and Valencia.

But with QPR unable to land targets Peter Crouch or Peter Odemwingie the potential deal could not be tied up as the clock ticked down on the winter window.

An inquiry was thought to be made into the availability of Manchester City striker John Guidetti, although the Etihad side reiterated a stance they took earlier in the window where they stated they did not want to leave the young Swede leave having only recently returned to fitness, the position hardening with Mario Balotelli’s move to AC Milan.

Swansea - whose administrative staff remained at the ground until the 11pm deadline - were also linked with Sevilla’s 28-year-old Spain international Manu del Moral as well as Oscar Diaz of Segunda side Oscar Diaz but the window drew to a close last night without any business to add to the loan arrival of Roland Lamah earlier this month concluded.

It is a scenario that will surprise supporters given the risk Graham’s absence leaves, even if the £5m fee for a player who had for some time agitated for a move represented good business and a profit on the £3.5m paid to Watford last summer.

It took the tally of transfer fees received by Swansea past the £27m mark for the season following the summer window sales of Joe Allen, Scott Sinclair and other exits such as Stephen Dobbie and Andrea Orlandi.

Swansea also temporarily shifted Leroy Lita off the wage bill last week after he joined Sheffield Wednesday on loan while Jazz Richards headed to Palace on loan, youngster Gwion Edwards yesterday moving to Scottish side St Johnstone also on loan.

But it is Graham’s move that made most headlines after a drawn-out transfer saga eventually came to a conclusion.

That said, it did not go through without a late twist with Middlesbrough making a move for the former Riverside striker, only for Graham’s representatives to quickly dismiss the possibility to push through the move to the Stadium of Light.

Graham was again citing personal reasons for the move, although it is thought that his frustrations at a loss of regular starts under Laudrup was the chief factor behind his wish to leave the Liberty after 21 goals in 62 appearances.

“I’m sad to be leaving Swansea, but delighted to be joining Sunderland and moving back home to the North East for personal reasons,’’ Graham said on his departure.

“I’ve really enjoyed my time at Swansea, but everyone moves on at some time in football.

“Obviously I would have liked more game-time this season, but that’s the way it goes and I’m looking forward to the new challenge at Sunderland.

“I would like to think I played my part in Swansea’s success so far in the Premier League, especially last season.

“I can only speak in a positive way about the club, especially the supporters and the squad of players. They have been outstanding and I’d like to thank everyone for making my time so enjoyable.”

Speaking in Sunderland, Graham admitted he would have to win over Black Cats supporters who booed his appearance for the Swans against Sunderland in midweek.

“It’s up to me to show people I deserve to wear the Sunderland shirt and I’m excited about playing for a club as big as this,” he said. “But as soon as I heard about the interest from Sunderland, I didn’t even have to consider any of the other options that were on the table.”

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